Triple M radio hosts complain the AFL and NRL are turning The Last Post into a ‘gimmick’

Footy codes around Australia have been accused of turning an iconic tradition into a “gimmick” in the lead-up to Anzac Day.

Footy codes around Australia have been accused of turning The Last Post into a “gimmick” in the lead-up to Anzac Day.

The sombre bugle call, which is synonymous with Australia and New Zealand’s Anzac Day tradition, has been used for decades to show respect to the countless soldiers who died serving their nations.

But Triple M’s Greg “Marto” Martin says there’s a real threat the tune is being overused, with the AFL and NRL having The Last Post played before every single game.

Martin said the annual spectacle at the MCG for the Anzac Day clash between Essendon and Collingwood was “spine tingling”, but insisted viewers would be getting “bugle fatigue” after an entire round.

“Football has now turned [The Last Post] into a gimmick,” Triple M’s Greg “Marto” Martin said on Tuesday.

“Back in 1995 when Kevin Sheedy, the coach of Essendon, he said, ‘Let’s have an Anzac Day clash at the MCG,’ I reckon it’s the most… spine tingling three minutes or so.

“97,000 at the MCG… not one person yelling out while that’s being played and, the honour that they give to all serving soldiers and returned soldiers is quite extraordinary.”

“But now what’s happened, as football always does, and I’m not just talking AFL I’m talking rugby league as well, they’ve taken a wonderful thing and they’ve gone, ‘Oh that’s good’.”

The sombre bugle call, which is unanimous with Australia and New Zealand’s ANZAC Day tradition, has been used for decades to show respect to the countless fallen soldiers who served their nations.

A radio host has insisted viewers would be getting ‘bugle fatigue’ after an entire round of The Last Post.

John Mansfield plays the bugle during the AFL Anzac Day Ceremony at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.

“How can we capitalise!” Co-host Margaux Parker interjected.

“So what’s going to happen this week in all eight games of the AFL and all eight games of the rugby league… every single one of them will play this [The Last Post] and you’ll get ANZAC - you’ll get bugle fatigue.”

“We have to stop it somewhere.”

Parker said The Last Post was in danger of “losing its value”

“It gets saturated, so it loses it’s value.”

“They all think they are doing the right thing, but all they are doing is turning it into a mockery.”

The AFL has confirmed it would be holding ceremonies before all nine games this round and has encouraged fans to purchase badges to support the RSL’s Anzac Appeal.

“Anzac Day is one of our country’s most important national occasions so I’d encourage all fans attending matches throughout the round to arrive early to soak up the atmosphere and pre-match formalities that will no doubt be another moving tribute to the sacrifices of our past and present service men and women,” AFL General Manager Commercial Peta Webster said.